Reader identifies guy at the Courthouse earlier, says he threatened to kill her

The guy at the Courthouse earlier  today was identified by a reader. Her first message at 7:59 p.m. was "That guy was David Couch. He went to jail after that he threaten to kill me."

Why report 100 cases in July rather than 1 hospitalized, O new deaths in 14 days?

COVID numbers will rise locally because there are no consequences, just empty meaningless mandates

Mixing of households. Irresponsible people. Despite daily warnings from Dr. Teresa Frankovich, Humboldt's cases have grown because the County and the City of Eureka have refused to properly enforce and have any financial or any consequences for individuals violating the rules. Instead, they went after businesses already sanitizing and taking precautions and jeopardized lives and livelihood of many privately employed, hard working people.

Pandemic rage or a nutcase?

Sometimes, I just have my phone out at the right time. This guy was acting strange before he came into the Courthouse. Looked very concerned I had my phone. On a hunch, I took his photo.

It is 5 p.m. the Courthouse is closed. He got in the door just seconds before. Tells security he wants to pay his taxes. They tell him the office is closed. He isn't wearing a facial covering.

He makes a threat that he could blow up the building. Then he leaves. 

Two additional COVID 19 cases reported today; 100 cases in month of July

Humboldt County’s total count of confirmed COVID-19 cases now stands at 233, after two additional cases were reported today.

KQED article excerpts highlight what renters and mortgage owners are facing in California in August

KQED article excerpts highlight what renters and mortgage owners are facing in California in August.

The backdoor lobbying is what reporters in and near Sacramento should be covering.

Media, victim and defendant's families are not allowed on the second floor but dirty, filthy mentally ill bums can wander around?

This morning, at trial assignment for murder suspect Brandon Watson, there were issues because was no livestream. The judge, the bailiff, tech, no one was paying attention. Meanwhile, court was in session. The livestream eventually started late.

"It is difficult to get a fair and impartial jury during normal times."

Jury trial scheduled for August 3 was vacated. Judge Kaleb Trial granted the District Attorney's motion to continue. He did not grant the request for a 30 day setting or to continue the jury trial in November.

"We have gone from being bums to middle class"

Overheard on 6th street. Near the bus stop, half a block from Eureka City Hall.

"We have gone from being bums to middle class" said one guy on the bicycle.

"Trader's Joe not renaming products: We do not make decisions based on petitions"

To Our Valued Customers:

In light of recent feedback and attention we’ve received about our product naming, we have some things we’d like to say to clarify our approach.

Suspect still barricaded in Hydesville, Crisis Negotiation Team on scene

#UPDATE @ 6:57 PM- HCSO deputies made entry into the residence. After a thorough search, deputies were unable to locate the suspect. There is no perceived threat to the public at this time. This case is under investigation.

Words Worth Big D 6:50 PM:

John - An update as of 6:42 pm, according to HCSO unit "1 Echo" over the radio repeater system, all units are clear from that scene.

Three new COVID 19 cases reported today

Three new cases of COVID-19 were reported today. The total number of county residents confirmed to have contracted the virus is 231.

Three police cars at 4th and L, at least one arrest

I saw three police cars near 4th and L. By the time, I got closer, Officer Brian Ross was leaving. Officer Heinrich Soltow and another office placed a guy in one of the patrol cars and a brown paper bag in the trunk.

EPD Crime Analyst Brittany Powell told me,"officers initiated a field interview with a man near 4th and L streets.  The man was medically denied at the jail."

Officers are still handling the call so no name or any other information about the arrest, yet.

Murder suspect Ryan Tanner found competent to stand trial

Judge John Feeney ruled that murder suspect Ryan Tanner is competent to stand trial.  Criminal proceedings were reinstated.

Third continuance for Darius Upshaw charged with 6 counts of oral copulation of intoxicated victim

Preliminary hearing was scheduled for Darius Upshaw on July 16. It was continued to today. And continued again at the request of defense to  August 6 for setting of preliminary hearing.

Criminal proceedings suspended for Opera Alley murder suspect

Receipt of Dr. Wilson's report was scheduled today for murder suspect Connor Whited. He was found not competent to stand trial. Criminal proceedings were suspended.

Heroin, child endangerment charges and two arrests in Arcata

(Skundrich)

(Alvarez)

On July 29th, 2020, special agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF), with the assistance of the Arcata Police Department, served a search warrant at a residence located in the 500 block of Warren Creek Road, Arcata.

Discovery, third party culpability and another Judge disqualified from Acosta and Carroll case

Preliminary hearing for local attorney Michael Acosta and co-defendant Sarah Carroll was scheduled for this morning.

"It's a two year case. We desperately need to move this forward. The trauma it continues to inflict,the longer it is continued"

Ruling on the defense motion to continue alleged molestor Mark Dare's jury trial was scheduled on July 30. Jury trial is scheduled for August 17 was confirmed.

Two arrested by HSU police for being fugitives from justice

Daniel Adam Fish and Ashleigh Nicole McCallister were both arrested by HSU police yesterday for PC 1551 (a), fugitive from justice. Both had warrants out of Virginia on homicide charges.

Was the California Judicial Council notice regarding temporary emergency rules 1 and 2 influenced by a lawsuit filed by The Pacific Legal Foundation?

Seven additional cases of COVID 19 reported today

Humboldt County’s COVID-19 case count stands at 228, after seven additional cases were reported today.

Judge John Feeney granted defense motion to exclude jail calls for Ryan Tanner's evidentiary hearing

Evidentiary hearing on murder suspect Ryan Tanner started late, again today. The reason was Tanner was not in the jail conference room.

After all the continuances he has requested and for less serious reasons, Russ Clanton's fit about a continuance in Fiore case was unneccessary

Confirmation of an evidentiary hearing and ruling on defense motion to have experts testify remotely was continued to this morning. The People oppose the defense motion.

Is EPD "petitioning to have investigation of the incident sealed" in John Karl Sieger's death?

John Karl Sieger died on July 23 during an EPD Officer involved shooting.

I sent the following questions to DA Maggie Fleming and EPD Chief Steve Watson.

Two hour hearing turns into two day hearing

Evidentiary hearing for murder suspect Ryan Tanner was scheduled for July 28. Mr. Russ Clanton was still in Courtroom 3 as of 1:55 as one of his other clients was entering a plea.

Charges dismissed against Ahumadamendoza, Court opinion is evidence against Colemanis not strong

DA Investigator Ryan Hill and Rio Dell Police Chief Conner testified this afternoon for the People.

Investigator Hill's testimony was brief and about the surveillance video obtained from 81 Monument Road, a residence across the street from the crime scene.

Four new cases of COVID 19 reported today

Four new cases of COVID-19 were reported today, bringing to 221 the total number of county residents who have tested positive for the virus.

Public Health Lab "will nearly triple its capacity to conduct testing for COVID-19 thanks to a new piece of equipment "

The Humboldt County Public Health Laboratory (PHL) will nearly triple its capacity to conduct testing for COVID-19 thanks to a new piece of equipment paid for with state and federal grant funding.

Did marijuana and large scale cannabis deals play a role in Rio Dell homicide?

(Osenbaugh)

(Ignjatovic)

In a focused and brilliant cross examination by Demetrius Coleman's attorney, Ms. Andrea Sullivan which took about 10 minutes, followed up by cross examination by Alma Ahumadamendoza's attorney Mr. Thomas Feimer as court took the lunch break, details about involvement of Humboldt's marijuana industry,  motives of witnesses in the case and scrutiny into the year long investigation reveal the challenges the People face with their case.

National, state, county and city parks are open for recreational use

Humboldt County’s outdoor spaces remain open to the public, though playgrounds and communal structures remain closed at parks throughout the state.

Shell fragments, glass fragments, and "a trail of blood leading to the man" at Rio Dell homicide crime scene

On August 29 ,2019, at approximately 6:29 p.m. Rio Dell Sgt. John Beauchaine was dispatched to 70 Monument Road "for a reported gun shot victim."

Victim in Rio Dell homicide was alive when law enforcement first arrived on scene

Preliminary hearing for Demetrius Coleman and Alma Ahumadamendoza started this morning.

People have three witnesses: Rio Dell Sgt. John Beauchaine, an investigator and Rio Dell Police Chief Conner.

Judge Wilson finds Antone Aubrey guilty of second degree murder and not guilty by reason of insanity

Judge Christopher Wilson found Antone Aubrey guilty of second degree murder and not guilty by reason of insanity.

"I wanted to thank you for the invaluable work you do for this community. "

"I wanted to thank you for the invaluable work you do for this community. I enjoy reading your blog and getting news that would otherwise be unavailable. Keep up the great work.."

"From the beginning, this was a case about First Amendment rights. Political speech versus political hubris."

(Photo: John Chiv)

"The two newspapers and two TV stations said they wanted to interview me but they are not here," said Mr. Arlie Capps, Cornelius Lowenstein's attorney.

I spoke with Mr. Capps right after Judge Kelly Neel denied Councilmember Kim Bergel's request for a restraining order against Loewenstein.

12 additional COVID 19 cases reported today

Humboldt County’s total COVID-19 case count rose to 217, as 12 additional cases have been reported. While this is the largest single-day increase since the outbreak began, today’s report includes all new cases since Friday’s report.

Kim Bergel's request for restraining order against Cornelius Loewenstein denied

Judge Kelly Neel repeated what she said about the civil harassment orders when the hearing started and that they are granted to prevebt future harm.

Judge Neel explained her ruling.

In a nutshell, Kim Bergel's request did not meet the elements required by law. This ruling is not a surprise to anyone who knows the law or has been following the coverage of the prior hearings on this lawsuit.

"I found out about the hearing from John Chiv. I want to thank him for that"

Hearing for Kimberly Bergel's request for a restraining order against Cornelius Loewenstein was continued to July 27 since she was a no show.

However, Kim Bergel explained why she wasn't at the hearing. "I found out about the hearing from John Chiv. I want to thank him for that."

Judge Kelly Neel displomatically said the clerk inadvertently did not provide notice.

There were constant audio issues, an umuted conversation from Bergel everyone heard which included swearing, admonishments to both Bergel and Loewenstein multiple times from Judge Neel. We could not hear Mr. Capps for most of the hearing due to tech issues in court.

"They won't let me continue it, I am fucked!," said Bergel. When Judge Neel told Bergel she was unmuted, she said, " I apologize for swearing."

At 3:20, there was a break to attempt to fix tech issues and take an afternoon break. At 3:55 p.m. we are still waiting for the courtroom to open.

We got to hear the Facebook live video in which Lowenstein rants about being served with the restraining order, he is upset about that, he mentions the needle exchange program and he calls Kim Bergel a "fucking grant whore" and "a fucking (the C word)". He also says, "this is the way they treat their critics."

Judge Neel went over documents, emails and explained what she excluded as it was irrelevant.

Mr. Arlie Capps is Loewenstein's attorney.

I was the only one who covered the last hearing.

Previous post:
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/06/kim-bergel-no-show-case-called-twice.html?m=1#more

Three police officers outside the post office at 5th and H street in Eureka

One of the two responding police officers just left. EPD officer Heinrich Soltow is still here. Officer Ryan Swanson got here after the first two officers. The guy asked someone passing by to call the police for him.

$11.4 million grant will fund the Arcata 30th Street Commons Project

The City of Arcata, in partnership with the Yurok Indian Housing Authority, is excited to announce the Arcata 30th Street Commons Project is now fully funded.

DA's motion to amend charges for attempted murder suspect Matthew Ramsey granted

Trial confirmation and ruling on a motion to  file first amended information was continued to this morning for attempted murder suspect Matthew Ramsey.

Humboldt Superior Court is going to look a lot different and not just on the second floor

Trial setting continued for Brian Leiteritz due to ongoing discussions to resolve the case

Trial setting for voluntary manslaughter suspect Brian Leiteritz was continued to September 28.

Glenn Kaminsky arrested for corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant

Glenn Steven Kaminsky was arrested by Arcata Police Department yesterday for PC273.5 (a),corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant. Initially refused by medical, then booked. He posted bail which according to the jail was $50,000.

Booking photothis is the husband of Lindsay Kaminsky. I covered her case starting in 2015. She was originally charged with stabbing her husband, Glenn Kaminsky, in the throat. She pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and received probation.